Metal window wall



Dec. 8, 1959 J. GARTNER METAL WINDOW WALL Filed July 2,2. 1955 INV ENTOR.

JOSEF 6,42 TNEE Dec. 8, 1959 J. GARTNr-:R 2,916,108

METAL wmnow WALL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1955 D 8 1959 J. GARTNER 2,916,108

METAL wmnow WALL Filed July 22, 1955 e sheets-sheet s FIG. 5b

IN V EN TOR. L/aSfP/f Giver/vf@ 'BY/WWW Dec. 8, 1959 J. GARTNER 2,916,108

METAL wINnow WALL Filed .July 22, 1955 ssneets-shee't 4 INVENTOR. JSEF 6427/1/52 3y/inw J. GAR'rNER 2,916,108

METAL wINDow WALL Dec. 8, 1959 Filed July 22, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v INVENTOR. Qf. GQ/Dbel United States Patent 2,916,108 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 .ice

2,916,108 METAL WINnow WALL Josef Gartner, Gwndellngen, Germany, assigner to Josef 'Gartner & Co., Gundeliingen, Germany Application July 22, 1955Serial No. .523,845

Claims priority, application Germany July 24, 1954 11 Claims. (Cl. 189--3'4) This invention relates to a wall construction of the type composed of metal window elements which are secured ,to the ceilings of the stories of a building so as to form the front or facade wall thereof,

It is an object of the invention to provide means affording a window wall construction which takes into consideration heat elongation of its elements without causing any substantial mechanical stresses or deformations or undue wear of packing elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide means conducive to a novel window wall structure which is simple to produce and to ybe assembled with minimum expenditure of material, labor and time.

l.Still another object of the invention is to provide .means ensuring a reliable packing at the joints of a wall structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means meeting both the static and the aesthetic requirements of a wall structure.

With these and further objects in view, according to the present invention a wall element consists of several hollow stanchions which are iixedly interconnected by crossbars and xedly secured at one end only to a horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story while having at their opposite ends a hollow fitting piece by which they are slidably mounted in the stanchions of the `adjacent wall element; moreover, at the sides of each wall element hollow half-stanchions are provided which are formed on their inner and outer sides with flanges directed parallel to the plane of the wall and disposed in ,overlapping relationship with the iianges of thehollow half-stanchions .of the two adjacent wall elements, in such a way that in fers to the :Hoor or to the ceiling of a story which, however, actssimultaneously as a ceiling or floor for the vertically adjacent lower or upper story, respectively.

Furthermore, according to the invention the hollow stanchions are profiled in such a way that they serve as rabbets for the window frames and window sashes.

This simple construction of the metal window wall according to the invention has important advantages, the stanchions of the wall elements having a multiple function:

Together with the crossbars they form a stable larger wall element which serves for receiving a plurality of window `frames and window sashes.

By the special design of these stanchions in the form of hollow fitting pieces and half-stanchions, they permit,

2, special facing profiles intended to imitate outer stanchions can be dispensed with.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and appear in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawings a now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a part of a metal window wall,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through this wall, taken on the line lI--II of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View, on a reduced scale, of a detail of the embodiment shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line V-V of Fig. 4,

Fig. 5a `is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of two half stanchions of the metal window wall of Fig. l and as seen in Fig. 5 and shown in spaced apart position,

Fig. 5b is a top plan View of Fig. 5a partly in section, the section being taken along lines Sb-Sb of Fig. 5a.

Fig. Sc is a top plan view similar to that of Fig. 5b with the half stanchions seen in en-gaged position,

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line Vl-VI of Fig. l,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are horizontal sections taken on lines VlII-VIII or IX-IX of Fig. 1,

Fig. 10 is a vertical section at a window opening, and

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on line XI-XI of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail in which similar reference numerals denote similar parts, it will be seen ythat the metal window wall is formed of hollow stanchions 3 and 4 and crossbars 5 and comprises window sashes 1 and iixedly arranged windows 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, this metal window wall forms the facade or front wall of a building, which Iis composed of larger wall elements in place of conventional outer wall structure. The wall elements are secured to the ceilings 6 of the stories which ceilings are provided with parapets '-7, the hredly arranged glass windows 2 being provided in front of the ceilings 6` and parapets 7.

Each wall element consists of two hollow central stanchions 3 and two hollow half stanchions 4a and 4b, said four stanchions being xedly interconnected by the crossbars 5. ln the embodiment as shown the height of each wall element corresponds to theheigh-t of the story. Such a wall element may be produced also in larger dimensions, e.g., in the size 'of 4 X 4 meters.

In Figs. 1 `and 3, the upper and lower limiting edges of the stanchions 3 and 4 are denoted a and b, or c and d, respectively. Thus a larger wall element containing several windows or window sashes is obtained, which element is illustrated in Fig. 3 by hatching.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 5, both the stanchions 3 and the half stanchions 4a and 4b form a substantially T- shaped hollow profile. By this'protlle rabbet surfaces are formed which render it possible to use these hollow stanchions 3 or 4a, 4b simultaneously as rabbets for window frames S (Figs. Sand 7) or window sashes 9' (Figs. 8 and 9). In the rabbet surfaces for the window frames there are provided vertical, advantageously dovetail-shaped grooves 10 serving, as in case of the penetration of water, as collecting Iand draining channels, or, if desired, for the insertion of packing strips.

According to Figs. 6 and 7, or 4 and 5, both the stanchions 3 and the half stanchions 4 at their lower ends are supported by, as for example,`xedly connected to the -story ceiling. To this end, a strut 11 or 12 is secured to the lower end of the stanchions 3 or 4a by means of screws 13 and an intermediate member lift. Welded to a base plate 1S of the ceiling 6 of the story is a T-piece le on both sides of which a pair of vertical flat bars All is adjustably secured by means of cross slots andlongitudinal slots i9. `The shplate 2t? of the struts 11 or 12 is inserted between these flat bars and secured by means of a screw bolt 2l.

lt is important that the stanchions 3 yand 4 are supported by the ceilings of the stories at one end only, at 2l, while the upper ends of these stanchions are mounted so as to be freely slidable in order to allow for elongation as a result of temperature changes. To this end, a hollow .fitting piece 22 corresponding exactly to the prole of the stanchion is inserted at the upper end of the stanchion 3 and secured to the stanchion, eg., by means of screws 23. As will be `seen from Fig. 6, the projecting part of this fitting piece 22 is slidably mounted in the end of the adjacent stanchion. The upper and lower edges 2d and 25 of this fitting piece 22 are outwardly and downwardly inclined, in such a way that water which has entered into the stanchions is drained to the outside along these edges. According to Fig. 6, the stanchion 3 ioreover is cut out approximately at right angles at the upper end of the outer side, in such a way that the verti- `cai edges 25 of this cutout are located in front of the rabbet surfaces 27 of the windows and the horizontal edges of the cutout 23 are also inclined to the outer and lower sine. The lower end of the stanchion 3 is cut out according to Fig. 6. Thus, in spite of the gap E@ required for the expansion, any penetration of water into the inner space is effectively prevented.

According to Fig. 6 the crossbars 5 are provided with grooves or recesses Sil for the window panes 2 in such a way that in case of expansion of the upper end of the stanchion the `window pane is able to slide in the recess in the direction of -arrow A.

The half-stanchions 4 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are similarly shaped. Accordingly, similar hollow fitting pieces 3i and 32 are secured in tbe upper ends of the half-stanchions da and db, and the ends of the stanchions are cut out in a similar way as described above.

While the joint 33, 22, 3 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 permits a free expansion of the stanchions or wall elements in a vertical direction, the construction and joint lof the half-stanchions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 permits not only such vertical expansion, but in addition permits a free expansion in a horizontal direction. To this end, the half stanchions at their inner and outer sides are formed with flanges 33a and 34, or 35 and 36, directed parallel to the wall plane and overlapping each other as seen in Fig. 5. Advantageously, the half-stanchion 4b is provided on the cuter side with a U-shaped double ange 33a, 33b for mutual engagement with a flange 3d of halfstanchion 42, as shown. This simple construction of the half-stanchions permits a free mutual sliding in a horizontal direction and simultaneously provides a reliable seal. lf any rain water should'enter into the hollow space of the stanchions through the flange packing 33, 34, it will run off on the inner side of these ilanges, but it cannot penetrate through the overlapphig members 35. 3d into the interior of the building.

Figs. a, 5b and 5c illustrate, respectively, spaced apart and interengaging positions of half stanchions 4a, 4b, the latter stanchion being provided with a cutout 35a in flange 35 to embracingly engage member 1d as more clearly depicted in Fig. 5c.

ln the metal window wall shown in Figs. l() and ll, there are also provided wall elements in accordance with the present invention, consisting of hollow stanchions 3 connected by crossbars 5, or consisting of hollow half stanchions da, 4b. In the embodiment shown in Figs. l0 and l1, profiles 37 serving as an abutment for the window sashes 38 are provided.

Figs. l0 `and ll illustrate the manner in which a tight joint is achieved between the window wall and the masonry or brickwork 39 on the window opening. To this end, a metal profile frame 4d is secured on the brickwork in the window opening, which frame has a packing flange 41 both on its top side (Fig. l0) and on its lateral side (Fig. ll), said ange being parallel to the window plane and engaging in a groove arranged in the window wall and lled up with sealing putty. Said proled frame is screwed to an annularclaw or strap which is cemented in a corresponding recess M of the masonry.

In the embodiment as illustrated a Z-shaped profile 45 is secured to the window wall or to the profile 37 for forming the packing groove. This prole, or the packing groove, is dimensioned in such a way that the window wall is permitted to slide, especially within its wall plane,

in relation to the packing flange All in case heat elongations or thermal expansions occur. Owing to the engagement of the ila-.nge il in the groove filled with putty d2 the sealing eiect is not impaired by such thermal expansions. Advantageously a special putty may be used which is insensitive to temperature, i.e. which retains its plasticity in case of changes of the temperature.

Furthermore, a second ange 46 is provided on the profiled frame 4G parallel to the sealing ange 46, said ange 46 engaging the profile 4S and thus covering the packing groove.

Moreover, there is provided on the outer side of the proiile frame 40, within the range of the masonry, a groove which is formed by two webs 47 and adapted to be filled up by putty 48.

It will be seen from the drawing that an additional durable and eifective sealing is thus achieved. The interspace existing between the proled frame 40 and the masonry 39 is lled up with stuft" 49. Finally, a thermal insulation Sl is applied on the outer side of the profiled frame, i.e. between the outer web 47 and a flange 50 arranged on the outer end face of the frame. It will be understood that the construction shown in Figs. l0 and 1l ensures a tight and thoroughly insulated joint between the metal window wall and the masonry, which joint, moreover, permits shifting of the window wall by thermal expansion without impairing the sealing or packing.

In the illustrated embodiment the proled frame 40 extends downwards up to the parapet plate 52. As shown in Fig. l1 the hollow stanchion 3 is fixedly connected to the masonry 53 while the remaining stanchions of this wall element, among others the half stanchion 4a, are free to shift in case of thermal expansion.

The metal window wall according to the invention meets with all practical requirements. It permits the industrial manufacture and mass production of wall elements in relatively large dimensions. Since these wall elements are merely interlocked with the stanchions 3 and 4 and each wall element is fastened on the story l, with four screw bolts only, according to Figs. 4 and 6,

the assembling of this metal window wall is extremely Vsimplified and the time of assembling is rdeuced to a minimum.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A continuous metal-framed glass wall adapted to form the external wall of a building of the multi-storied type building having ceilings unsupported by the outer wall of the building; comprising a plurality of wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, cross bars interconnecting said stanchions, each stanchion being supported at one end only by a horizontal floor and ceiling element of a building in front of said element, each stanchion being vformed at its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, and hollow half stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of the wall element and formed on their inner and outer vsides with flanges `telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping the flanges of the hollow half stanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half stanchions are able to slide freely relative to each other.

2. In a building having a `plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element; a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, cross bars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being supported at one end only by the horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides lof the wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with flanges telescopingly slidably engaging .and overlapping with the lianges of the hollow half stanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion of the wall elements the cooperlating half stanchions are able to` slide freely relative to each other, window frames and window sashes, said hollow stanchions being profiled so as to form rabbet surfaces for the window frames and window sashes.

3. In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, cross bars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being xedly connected at one end only to the horizontal oor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow tting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of the wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with flanges telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping with the flanges of the hollow half stanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, window frames and window sashes, said hollow stanchions having a substantially T-shaped hollow prole so as to form rabbet surfaces for the window frames and window sashes.

4. A wall element for continuous metal-framed glass walls adapted to form the external wall of a building of the multi-storied type, said wall element comprising a plurality of hollow stanchions, cross bars permanently secured to the stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being adapted to be supported at one end only by the horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story in front of the same, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, and hollow half stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of the wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with ilanges which are parallelly directed to the wall plane and adapted to overlap with the flanges of the hollow half stanchions of the Itwo laterally adjacent wall elements.

5, In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of ysaid building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated'external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, cross bars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being tixedly connected at one end only to the horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story in front of .said element, each stanchion being formed art its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with anges telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping with the iianges of the hollow halfstanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, the outer side of each stanchion being formed with a substantially rectangular recess at its upper end, the vertical edges of this recess being disposed in front of the window rabbet surfaces.

6. ln a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabrcated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, cro-ssbars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being xedly connected at one end only to the horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow titting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides -of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with anges telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping with the flanges of the hollow halfstanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that' upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, the outer side of each stanchion being formed with a substantially rectangular recess at its upper end, the vertical edges of this recess being disposed in front of the window rabbet surfaces, the horizontal edges of the recesses of the stanchions and the upper and lower edges of the hollow -iitting pieces being outwardly and downwardly inclined.

7. In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each Wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, crossbars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being xedly connected at one end only to the horizontal floor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with flanges telescopingly slidably engaging and `overlapping with the llanges of the hol-low halfstanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation lto each other, one of said half-stanchions being provided on its outer side with a U-shaped double flange for engagement of the outer flange of the opposite halfstanchion in the space between the two legs of the U.

8. In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, crossbars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting saine, each stanchion being 'lixedly connected at one end only to the horizontal oor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow litting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with flanges telescopingly slidably engaging and `overlapping with the anges of the hollow halfstanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that uponexpansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating hal-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, said hollow stanchions being proled so as to form rabbet surfaces provided with vertical grooves, window frames, and window sashes secured within said Vertical grooves of said rabbet surfaces.

9. In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal iioor and ceiling element, a continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, crossbars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being lixedly connected at one end only to the horizontal lioor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow iitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element, hollow half-stanchions provided on the lateral opposite sides of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with langes telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping with the flanges of the hollow half-stanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, said hollow stanchions being proled so as to form rab'oet surfaces provided with dovetail-shaped vertical grooves, window frames, and window sashes secured within said vertical grooves of said rabbet surfaces. i

l0. In a building having a plurality of stories, each story including a horizontal floor and ceiling element, a

continuous metal-framed glass wall forming the external wall of said building and comprising a plurality of prefabricated external wall elements, each wall element including a plurality of hollow stanchions, crossbars secured to said stanchions for interconnecting same, each stanchion being xedly connected at one end only to the horizontal oor and ceiling element of a story in front of said element, each stanchion being formed at its opposite end with a hollow fitting piece for slidable mounting in the stanchions of the vertically adjacent wall element7 hollow half-stanchions.provided on the lateral opposite sides of each wall element and formed on their inner and outer sides with llanges telescopingly slidably engaging and overlapping with the flanges of the hollow half-stanchions of the two laterally adjacent wall elements so that upon expansion and contraction of the wall elements the cooperating half-stanchions are able to slide freely in relation to each other, and a supporting strut at the lower end of each stanchion, which strut is adapted to be secured to a story post, by means of a horizontal screw bolt.

ll. A wall element for forming an external wall of a building of the multi-storied type; comprising a plurality of spaced hollow stanchions, crossbars secured to and interconnecting said stanchions, each stanchion being provided at one end with a hollow tting piece facilitating slidable mounting thereof in stanchions of a vertically adjacent wall element, each stanchion being adapted to be supported at another end opposite to said one end by a horizontal iloor and ceiling element of a building story in front of the saine, and hollow half-stanchions provided on lateral opposite sides of said wall element, said halfstanchions being provided at inner and outer sides thereof with lianges adapted to overlap anges provided on hollow halfstanchions of laterally adjacent wall elements.

References Cited in the file ofithis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,230,348 Cox et al. Feb. 4, l94l 2,663,917 Peterson Dec. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,053 Switzerland Feb. 29, 1952 

